# NBA Christmas games

Games held by the National Basketball Association (NBA) on Christmas Day, December 25, have been an annual tradition since the league's second season in 1947. Since 2008, five games have been played on Christmas. Since 1995, the current NBA champions play a game on Christmas Day. Unlike the National Football League (NFL)'s traditional Thanksgiving Day games, the NBA's Christmas Day games have no fixed opponents; rather, they feature some of the best teams and players.

## History

The first NBA game played on December 25 came in 1947, a year after the NBA's inception, when the New York Knicks beat the Providence Steamrollers at Madison Square Garden 89–75. Since then, the NBA has played games every year on Christmas Day except in 1998 (when a lockout canceled half the 1998–99 season). In contrast, Major League Baseball (MLB) and Major League Soccer (MLS) are in their off-seasons during Christmas, the National Football League (NFL) (prior to 2020) only schedules Christmas games when Christmas falls on the weekend (and even then only schedules games on Christmas occasionally) and the National Hockey League (NHL)'s collective bargaining agreement forbids playing games on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day (celebrated as such in Canada as a statutory holiday, though otherwise the non-holiday day after Christmas in the United States; in seasons in which the latter falls on a Saturday, the break occurs one day earlier, from December 23–25). In college football, the only bowl game traditionally scheduled for Christmas has been the defunct Aloha Bowl (and for one year, its replacement, the ESPN Events-owned Hawaii Bowl; that game itself moved its date specifically due to ESPN/ABC's acquisition of NBA telecasts, including Christmas Day games). Thus, the NBA is the only league to regularly schedule games on December 25.
In the early days, regional proximity dictated most of the matchups. Teams would usually play their geographical rivals to cut down on holiday travel and to allow them to have more time with their families. According to Dr. Jack Ramsay, who coached the Portland Trail Blazers from 1976–77 (their only championship season) to 1986, "Christmas meant being at home with the family and having a game we always won. That was a perfect Christmas to me." He set the record for most coaching victories on Christmas Day with 11, an achievement that Phil Jackson later matched in 2008.
In the early 1980s, the New York Knicks put on a show three consecutive seasons. In one game (1984), hall-of-fame forward Bernard King scoring 60 points—the most ever scored by a player on Christmas Day, With the advent of television and the excitement caused by these games, the NBA decided to schedule games over the holiday that showcased the best teams and players.

### Teams and players

While there is no specific system to determine for which teams will play the Christmas games, officials from both the NBA and the networks that broadcast the NBA meet during each offseason to plan the schedule of games for the upcoming holiday. The Christmas matchups usually include the teams that played in the previous season's NBA Finals. The NBA also usually tries to feature the league's reigning MVP, as well as the league's other best players. Some examples of this include 2009 and 2010, when the defending champions of those seasons, the Los Angeles Lakers played at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2009 and the Miami Heat in 2010, so that they could have showdowns between Kobe Bryant and LeBron James both times.
The Knicks have played more Christmas Day games than any other team, with 57 total. They are 25–32 on the holiday. Their most recent Yuletide appearance came in 2024 when they defeated the San Antonio Spurs, 117–114, at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks have a checkered history on the 25th. Their 25 wins are tied with the Lakers for the most by a team on Christmas Day, while their 32 losses are the most.
Conversely, the Charlotte Hornets are the only active NBA team to never play on Christmas Day, having not been scheduled to play at least once since joining the league in 1988. This includes the franchise's second incarnation as the Charlotte Bobcats which played from 2004 to 2014.
The first Christmas Day game to take place outside the United States took place in 2019 when the Boston Celtics defeated the Toronto Raptors 118–102 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada.
Some players have participated on Christmas Day as both player and coach. Doc Rivers played with the Knicks in 1992 and coached the Celtics from 2008 to 2013. Phil Jackson, who also participated as a player and coach, has been a part of at least 20 holiday games, coaching on Christmas every year from 1990, with the exception of 1995 and 2004, until his retirement at the end of the 2010–11 season. He won his 1,000th game on Christmas Day in 2008. LeBron James currently holds the record for the most games played on Christmas Day, with 19 games.
Many teams and players that have played on this day have worn special uniforms and sneakers. From 2009 to 2011, the Knicks wore their third jersey, the green/orange alternate which they first used exclusively for St. Patrick's Day. During the game between the Heat and the Lakers in 2010, players on both teams wore holiday sneakers. Bryant, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom wore lime-green Nike sneakers while James and Chris Bosh wore holiday-red shoes with green laces. From 2008 to 2011, teams playing on Christmas Day wore a patch featuring the NBA logo inside a snowflake. Between 2012 and 2016, the NBA and Adidas produced special uniforms for the Christmas games. All of these uniforms feature a particular theme, such as monochromatic designs ('Big Color') and chrome-treated logos ('Big Logo'). In 2015 and 2016, Stance provided Christmas-themed socks for the games.
After Nike became the uniform provider in 2017, no Christmas-themed uniforms were produced. Instead, NBA teams playing on that day wore either "City" or "Statement" alternate uniforms. During the 2018–19 season, a few teams wore a fifth alternate known as "Earned" uniforms; these were given as a reward for making the 2018 NBA playoffs. In 2023, the snowflake patch returned to the back of the NBA uniforms; however, with the exception of the Miami Heat who wore their "Statement" red uniform, teams playing on that day wore either the primary "Association" or "Icon" uniforms. That trend continued in 2024, except no team wore alternate uniforms on that day. The Miami Heat have the best highest Christmas Day win percentage.

### Memorable moments

The NBA Christmas Day contests have featured some of the most memorable games ever played. Bernard King scored 60 points for the New York Knicks in 1984. Patrick Ewing helped the Knicks come back to beat the Celtics after trailing by 25 points in 1985. He then beat Michael Jordan and the Bulls on a last-second jumper in 1986. Scottie Pippen performed a last-second block in 1994.
The first showdown featuring Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal as opponents occurred on Christmas, 2004. 2009 and 2010 featured faceoffs between LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. Phil Jackson becoming the fastest coach to win 1,000 games (it happened on December 25, 2008). In 2021, LeBron James became the all-time Christmas Day scorer with 422 points, surpassing Kobe Bryant, who scored 383 points.
As a result of a lockout in 2011, Christmas Day was also the season opener. ESPN/ABC analyst Jeff Van Gundy talked about that day, saying, "It's a different opening day than has ever happened in the past and Christmas Day games have always been a big day for the NBA. This unique situation combined with the unveiling of a championship banner for the Mavericks in a finals rematch, and then to see the Lakers and the debut of Mike Brown as head coach, those things are all going to be very compelling."
Rivalries have also been showcased during games played on this day. During the 1990s, every Christmas but one featured a game involving either the New York Knicks or the Chicago Bulls, with the two teams playing against each other twice (in the Bulls championship season of 1992–93 and in 1994). They would have met a third time in 1998, if there had not been a lockout. The only year during the 1990s in which neither team played on Christmas Day was during the Bulls first championship season in their second three-peat, in 1995–96. During the 2000s, the NBA showcased the Shaq–Kobe feud. Since 1999, each Christmas has featured games involving either the Celtics or the Lakers, with both teams playing on the holiday in 2002 and every year since 2008. In a great pairing, the two teams faced off against each in other during the first of the Lakers' most recent back-to-back championship seasons of 2008–09. This was the first meeting between the two teams since the finals of the year before.
The home team is 142–75 in Christmas games. The winning percentage of .654 for the home team on Christmas Day is better than the overall winning percentage for home teams during the regular season or the playoffs since 1992.

## Broadcasting

The first telecast of an NBA game on Christmas Day dates back to the league's early years. In 1947, the Providence Steamrollers played in New York against the Knicks on WCBS channel 2 at 9 p.m. Eastern Time. Stan Lomax and Bob Edge called that game. Fifteen minutes later, at 8:15 p.m. Central Time, Joe Wilson broadcast the game between Baltimore Bullets and Chicago Stags for WBKB channel 4 in Chicago.
The first nationally televised Christmas Day NBA broadcast occurred in 1967, when ABC broadcast a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and San Diego Rockets from San Diego. Jerry Gross and Jack Twyman called that broadcast for ABC. ABC would continue to televise Christmas Day games through 1972. Chris Schenkel did play-by-play for ABC during this period with the exception of 1970, when Keith Jackson had the honors. Jack Twyman remained in the color commentating position up until 1971, when Bill Russell took over. From 1975-1989 (with the exception of 1982), CBS broadcast a game on Christmas Day.
However, it was not until 1983 that the games became a household tradition, when CBS broadcast the game between the New Jersey Nets and the New York Knicks and ESPN broadcast the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers (Sam Smith and Dick Vitale were on the call for ESPN). In the 1990s, NBC broadcast a doubleheader each year on Christmas Day (except in 1998, when there were no games played on Christmas Day due to the 1998–99 NBA lockout) and this has continued after ABC took over in 2002, except that in 2004 and 2006, ABC broadcast only one game. For three years (2004–2006), ABC insisted on having a Christmas Day game between the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers so that Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal could play against each other. Since ABC took over the NBA, ESPN has also broadcast games on Christmas Day (except in 2006). Since 2009, Christmas Day broadcasts on ESPN and ABC have featured a music video with Mariah Carey singing "All I Want for Christmas Is You." In 2010, Carey added "Oh Santa!"
In 2008, TNT broadcast on Christmas Day for the first time as Marv Albert, Mike Fratello and Craig Sager called the game between Washington and Cleveland in Cleveland and Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller and Cheryl Miller called the game between Dallas and Portland in Portland. This marked the first time that all three networks that cover the NBA (ABC, ESPN, and TNT) produced games on Christmas Day. As Christmas Day fell on a Thursday that year, TNT was given two primetime games as part of their regular TNT NBA Thursday slate (the same scenario also took place in 2014).
Due to the 2011 NBA lockout, the season opener took place on Christmas Day that year. As a result, the NBA gave TNT the first game of the Christmas slate with a contest between the Celtics and Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Calling the game were Marv Albert (himself a former Knicks broadcaster) and Steve Kerr. Because of this, Albert, who was also working for CBS's NFL coverage, was forced to miss his scheduled Week 16 game the day before. Also on that day, ABC broadcast the Dallas Mavericks' 2011 Championship banner ceremony during their pre-game show. This marked the first time in NBA history that a pre-game championship banner ceremony has been aired on a terrestrial television network; either Turner Sports or a regional sports network aired the ceremonies in previous years.
In a unique situation in 2017, ABC aired an NBA tripleheader for the first time ever, which was headlined by a 2017 NBA Finals rematch between LeBron James and the Cavaliers and Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and the Warriors, which would be the prelude to the 2018 Finals rematch, which resulted in a Warriors sweep. Because ESPN aired Monday Night Football on Christmas night, they only aired one game, which was at 12 ET. TNT aired the 10:30 pm game, TNT's first Christmas Day game since 2014. However, instead of employing either Marv Albert or Kevin Harlan and their roster of game analysts, Turner opted to use the Inside the NBA crew of Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny "The Jet" Smith and Charles Barkley for the game, with TNT's No. 2 sideline reporter Kristen Ledlow working the sidelines and halftime. Since 2018, at least one Christmas Day game has been simulcast on both ESPN and ABC.
For 2022, ABC was originally scheduled to air a tripleheader. However, in October 2022, ESPN announced that all five of its Christmas Day games would be simulcast across both ABC and ESPN, likely as an attempt to counterprogram the NFL's scheduling of a Christmas Day tripleheader across CBS, Fox, and NBC. With network programming spanning throughout most of the day, beginning with Good Morning America Weekend (starting at 7:00 am local time) and the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade (airing across the country at 10:00 am ET), and then NBA coverage stretching from the first tripleheader game (Philadelphia–New York) at noon ET, which also featured an alternate broadcast on ESPN2 hosted by Stephen A. Smith, and was simulcast on ESPN+, to the conclusion of the last game (Phoenix–Denver) after 1:45 am ET early on December 26 (the game went to overtime), some ABC affiliates gave their local news department employees the entire day off.
With Christmas Day falling on a Monday in 2023, the NFL also scheduled a Monday Night Football on that day. Because ABC/ESPN holds the broadcast rights to both NBA Christmas games and Monday Night Football, it was decided that ESPN will again air all five NBA games (ESPN+ would also stream all five games for the first time ever), but ABC will only simulcast two of them (Golden State–Denver at 2:30 pm ET, followed by Boston–LA Lakers at 5 pm ET) in favor of exclusively airing the Monday Night Football game (which was also streamed on ESPN+). This would mark the first time since 2016 that ABC will televise fewer than three NBA Christmas games. ESPN also simulcast all games on ESPN+ and aired an alternate broadcast for the first game (Milwaukee-New York Knicks at noon ET), hosted by WNBA legends Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, on ESPN2.
For 2024, it was originally announced that only the middle three of the five Christmas games were going to be ABC/ESPN simulcasts, and the first and last games were only to be televised on ESPN. However, in October 2024, it was announced that all five games will be ABC/ESPN simulcasts like in 2022, in a similar manner of counterprogramming the Netflix-exclusive NFL games. In November 2024, it was further announced that ESPN2, ESPN+, and Disney+ will show an alternate broadcast of the first game, San Antonio Spurs–New York Knicks, that will use Hawk-Eye and other Sony-owned technology to render a live animated version of the contest portrayed by Mickey Mouse universe characters. Disney+ and ESPN+ will also stream the traditional broadcasts of all five games.

## Game results

| Season | Visiting team | Score | Home team | Score | OT | Significance | Network |
| 1947–48 | Chicago Stags | 70 | Baltimore Bullets | 87 | | First BAA Christmas Day game. | |
| 1947–48 | Providence Steamrollers | 75 | New York Knicks | 89 | | | |
| 1947–48 | Washington Capitols | 73 | St. Louis Bombers | 56 | | | |
| 1948–49 | Chicago Stags | 70 | New York Knicks | 64 | | | |
| 1948–49 | Boston Celtics | 77 | Philadelphia Warriors | 80 | | | |
| 1948–49 | Baltimore Bullets | 88 | Providence Steamrollers | 83 | | Bullets enter as the defending BAA champions. | |
| 1948–49 | St. Louis Bombers | 82 | Rochester Royals | 90 | | | |
| 1948–49 | Fort Wayne Pistons | 74 | Washington Capitols | 88 | | | |
| 1949–50 | Philadelphia Warriors | 64 | Baltimore Bullets | 63 | | First Christmas Day game for the renamed NBA. | |
| 1949–50 | Sheboygan Red Skins | 76 | Denver Nuggets | 72 | | | |
| 1949–50 | Fort Wayne Pistons | 58 | Minneapolis Lakers | 72 | | Lakers enter as the defending BAA (NBA) champions. | |
| 1949–50 | Boston Celtics | 79 | Rochester Royals | 88 | | | |
| 1949–50 | Washington Capitols | 81 | St. Louis Bombers | 68 | | | |
| 1949–50 | Anderson Packers | 88 | Syracuse Nationals | 94 | | | |
| 1949–50 | Indianapolis Olympians | 93 | Waterloo Hawks | 97 | | | |
| 1950–51 | Washington Capitols | 79 | Minneapolis Lakers | 93 | | | |
| 1950–51 | New York Knicks | 86 | Philadelphia Warriors | 84 | (OT) | | |
| 1950–51 | Boston Celtics | 77 | Rochester Royals | 90 | | | |
| 1950–51 | Fort Wayne Pistons | 69 | Syracuse Nationals | 81 | | | |
| 1950–51 | Baltimore Bullets | 72 | Tri-Cities Blackhawks | 87 | | | |
| 1951–52 | Syracuse Nationals | 78 | Milwaukee Hawks | 88 | | | |
| 1951–52 | Boston Celtics | 79 | Minneapolis Lakers | 108 | | | |
| 1951–52 | Fort Wayne Pistons | 80 | New York Knicks | 89 | | Knicks enter as the defending Eastern division champions. | |
| 1951–52 | Indianapolis Olympians | 73 | Rochester Royals | 65 | | Royals enter as the defending NBA champions. | |
| 1952–53 | Milwaukee Hawks | 69 | Fort Wayne Pistons | 71 | (2OT) | | |
| 1952–53 | Indianapolis Olympians | 73 | Minneapolis Lakers | 90 | | Lakers enter as the defending NBA champions. | |
| 1952–53 | Boston Celtics | 84 | New York Knicks | 97 | | | |
| 1952–53 | Rochester Royals | 93 | Philadelphia Warriors | 78 | | | |
| 1952–53 | Baltimore Bullets | 92 | Syracuse Nationals | 102 | | | |
| 1953–54 | Minneapolis Lakers | 78 | Baltimore Bullets | 88 | | Lakers enter as the defending NBA champions. | |
| 1953–54 | Boston Celtics | 79 | Fort Wayne Pistons | 108 | | | |
| 1953–54 | Syracuse Nationals | 80 | New York Knicks | 89 | | | |
| 1953–54 | Rochester Royals | 73 | Philadelphia Warriors | 65 | | | |
| 1954–55 | Boston Celtics | 108 | Milwaukee Hawks | 99 | | | |
| 1954–55 | Philadelphia Warriors | 91 | Minneapolis Lakers | 99 | | Lakers enter as the defending NBA champions. | |
| 1954–55 | Syracuse Nationals | 101 | New York Knicks | 109 | | | |
| 1954–55 | Fort Wayne Pistons | 73 | Rochester Royals | 80 | | | |
| 1955–56 | New York Knicks | 87 | Fort Wayne Pistons | 92 | | | |
| 1955–56 | Boston Celtics | 115 | Minneapolis Lakers | 112 | | | |
| 1955–56 | Rochester Royals | 96 | Syracuse Nationals | 111 | | Nationals enter as the defending NBA champions. | |
| 1956–57 | Philadelphia Warriors | 89 | Boston Celtics | 82 | | Warriors enter as the defending NBA champions. | |
| 1956–57 | Minneapolis Lakers | 100 | Fort Wayne Pistons | 89 | | | |
| 1956–57 | St. Louis Hawks | 107 | New York Knicks | 105 | (OT) | | |
| 1956–57 | Syracuse Nationals | 93 | Rochester Royals | 98 | | | |
| 1957–58 | Minneapolis Lakers | 106 | Detroit Pistons | 104 | | | |
| 1957–58 | Boston Celtics | 105 | Philadelphia Warriors | 115 | | Celtics enter as the defending NBA champions. | |
| 1957–58 | New York Knicks | 130 | Syracuse Nationals | 134 | (OT) | | |
| 1958–59 | St. Louis Hawks | 100 | Cincinnati Royals | 92 | | Hawks enter as the defending NBA champions. | |
| 1958–59 | Minneapolis Lakers | 97 | Detroit Pistons | 98 | (OT) | | |
| 1958–59 | Boston Celtics | 129 | New York Knicks | 120 | | | |
| 1959–60 | Detroit Pistons | 103 | Cincinnati Royals | 121 | | | |
| 1959–60 | Boston Celtics | 123 | New York Knicks | 119 | | Celtics enter as the defending NBA champions. | |
| 1959–60 | Syracuse Nationals | 121 | Philadelphia Warriors | 129 | | | |
| 1959–60 | Minneapolis Lakers | 96 | St. Louis Hawks | 112 | | Hawks enter as the defending Western division champions. | |
| 1960–61 | Detroit Pistons | 119 | Cincinnati Royals | 126 | | | |
| 1960–61 | New York Knicks | 100 | Syracuse Nationals | 162 | | | |
| 1961–62 | Detroit Pistons | 97 | Chicago Packers | 118 | | The Wizards franchise's first NBA Christmas Day game. | |
| 1961–62 | Los Angeles Lakers | 141 | Cincinnati Royals | 127 | | | |
| 1961–62 | Philadelphia Warriors | 135 | New York Knicks | 136 | (2OT) | | |
| 1961–62 | Boston Celtics | 127 | Syracuse Nationals | 122 | | Celtics enter as the defending NBA champions. | |
| 1962–63 | Detroit Pistons | 120 | Cincinnati Royals | 131 | | | |
| 1962–63 | Syracuse Nationals | 123 | New York Knicks | 111 | | | |
| 1962–63 | St. Louis Hawks | 91 | San Francisco Warriors | 94 | | | |
| 1963–64 | St. Louis Hawks | 107 | Cincinnati Royals | 113 | | | |
| 1963–64 | Los Angeles Lakers | 134 | New York Knicks | 126 | | | |
| 1964–65 | Detroit Pistons | 106 | Boston Celtics | 118 | | Celtics enter as the defending NBA champions. | |
| 1964–65 | St. Louis Hawks | 125 | Cincinnati Royals | 130 | (OT) | | |
| 1964–65 | Baltimore Bullets | 114 | New York Knicks | 108 | | | |
| 1965–66 | Boston Celtics | 113 | Baltimore Bullets | 99 | | Celtics enter as the defending NBA champions. | |
| 1965–66 | San Francisco Warriors | 113 | Cincinnati Royals | 119 | | | |
| 1965–66 | Detroit Pistons | 106 | Los Angeles Lakers | 115 | | | |
| 1965–66 | St. Louis Hawks | 131 | New York Knicks | 111 | | | |
| 1966–67 | Detroit Pistons | 129 | Baltimore Bullets | 127 | (OT) | | |
| 1966–67 | San Francisco Warriors | 124 | Cincinnati Royals | 112 | | | |
| 1966–67 | Chicago Bulls | 132 | New York Knicks | 133 | | Bulls–Knicks rivalry | |
| 1967–68 | Philadelphia 76ers | 108 | Baltimore Bullets | 105 | | 76ers enter as the defending NBA champions. | |
| 1967–68 | Seattle SuperSonics | 112 | Cincinnati Royals | 118 | | SuperSonics' first Christmas Day game | |
| 1967–68 | Boston Celtics | 134 | New York Knicks | 124 | | | |
| 1967–68 | Los Angeles Lakers | 101 | San Diego Rockets | 104 | | Rockets' first Christmas Day game; also first nationally televised game (ABC). | ABC |
| 1967–68 | Oakland Oaks | 98 | Kentucky Colonels | 112 | | ABA game | |
| 1968–69 | Seattle SuperSonics | 112 | Baltimore Bullets | 118 | | | |
| 1968–69 | Chicago Bulls | 98 | Cincinnati Royals | 103 | | | |
| 1968–69 | Detroit Pistons | 119 | Milwaukee Bucks | 113 | | Bucks' first Christmas Day game | |
| 1968–69 | Philadelphia 76ers | 109 | New York Knicks | 110 | | | |
| 1968–69 | Los Angeles Lakers | 119 | Phoenix Suns | 99 | | Suns' first Christmas Day game. Lakers enter as the defending Western division champions. | ABC |
| 1968–69 | Minnesota Pipers | 129 | Kentucky Colonels | 118 | | ABA game | |
| 1968–69 | Oakland Oaks | 127 | Los Angeles Stars | 122 | | ABA game | |
| 1968–69 | Denver Rockets | 129 | New York Nets | 110 | | ABA game | |
| 1969–70 | Philadelphia 76ers | 113 | Baltimore Bullets | 121 | | | |
| 1969–70 | San Francisco Warriors | 124 | Cincinnati Royals | 120 | (OT) | | |
| 1969–70 | Detroit Pistons | 111 | New York Knicks | 112 | | | |
| 1969–70 | Boston Celtics | 116 | Phoenix Suns | 127 | | Celtics enter as the defending NBA champions. | ABC |
| 1969–70 | Los Angeles Stars | 105 | Kentucky Colonels | 101 | | ABA game | |
| 1969–70 | Washington Caps | 131 | Pittsburgh Pipers | 112 | | ABA game | |
| 1970–71 | Chicago Bulls | 112 | Baltimore Bullets | 128 | | | |
| 1970–71 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 100 | Cincinnati Royals | 117 | | | |
| 1970–71 | Boston Celtics | 113 | Los Angeles Lakers | 123 | | | |
| 1970–71 | Buffalo Braves | 102 | New York Knicks | 115 | | Braves' first Christmas Day game, Knicks enter as the defending NBA champions. | |
| 1970–71 | Detroit Pistons | 100 | Philadelphia 76ers | 105 | | | |
| 1970–71 | Atlanta Hawks | 115 | Phoenix Suns | 127 | | | ABC |
| 1970–71 | Utah Stars | 102 | Memphis Pros | 107 | | ABA game | |
| 1970–71 | Carolina Cougars | 121 | Pittsburgh Condors | 136 | | ABA game | |
| 1970–71 | Texas Chaparrals | 131 | Virginia Squires | 145 | | ABA game | |
| 1971–72 | Buffalo Braves | 117 | Atlanta Hawks | 140 | | | |
| 1971–72 | Boston Celtics | 99 | Cincinnati Royals | 94 | | | |
| 1971–72 | Milwaukee Bucks | 118 | Detroit Pistons | 120 | (OT) | Bucks enter as the defending NBA champions. | |
| 1971–72 | Golden State Warriors | 89 | New York Knicks | 114 | | | |
| 1971–72 | Baltimore Bullets | 117 | Philadelphia 76ers | 114 | | Bullets enter as the defending Eastern conference champions. | |
| 1971–72 | Seattle SuperSonics | 86 | Phoenix Suns | 116 | | | |
| 1971–72 | Chicago Bulls | 109 | Portland Trail Blazers | 88 | | | |
| 1971–72 | Carolina Cougars | 102 | Memphis Pros | 110 | | ABA game | |
| 1971–72 | Indiana Pacers | 129 | Utah Stars | 150 | | ABA game | |
| 1971–72 | Pittsburgh Condors | 126 | Virginia Squires | 133 | | ABA game | |
| 1972–73 | Milwaukee Bucks | 104 | Kansas City-Omaha Kings | 99 | | | |
| 1972–73 | Detroit Pistons | 110 | New York Knicks | 113 | | | |
| 1972–73 | Chicago Bulls | 108 | Phoenix Suns | 115 | | | ABC |
| 1972–73 | Seattle SuperSonics | 113 | Portland Trail Blazers | 116 | | | |
| 1973–74 | Capital Bullets | 102 | New York Knicks | 100 | | Knicks enter as the defending NBA champions. | |
| 1973–74 | Los Angeles Lakers | 100 | Phoenix Suns | 135 | | | |
| 1974–75 | Philadelphia 76ers | 104 | New York Knicks | 97 | | | |
| 1974–75 | Boston Celtics | 96 | Phoenix Suns | 110 | | Celtics enter as the defending NBA champions. | |
| 1974–75 | Atlanta Hawks | 92 | Washington Bullets | 110 | | | |
| 1974–75 | San Diego Conquistadors | 100 | Utah Stars | 112 | | ABA game | |
| 1975–76 | Houston Rockets | 99 | New Orleans Jazz | 101 | | Jazz's first Christmas Day game | |
| 1975–76 | Philadelphia 76ers | 103 | New York Knicks | 111 | | | |
| 1975–76 | Kansas City Kings | 111 | Phoenix Suns | 122 | | | CBS |
| 1975–76 | Atlanta Hawks | 94 | Washington Bullets | 99 | | Bullets enter as the defending Eastern conference champions. | |
| 1976–77 | Detroit Pistons | 106 | Buffalo Braves | 115 | | | |
| 1976–77 | Chicago Bulls | 96 | Kansas City Kings | 91 | | | CBS |
| 1976–77 | Philadelphia 76ers | 105 | New York Knicks | 104 | | | |
| 1976–77 | Los Angeles Lakers | 96 | Phoenix Suns | 113 | | | |
| 1976–77 | Seattle SuperSonics | 95 | Portland Trail Blazers | 110 | | | |
| 1976–77 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 99 | Washington Bullets | 117 | | | |
| 1977–78 | Buffalo Braves | 105 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 111 | | | CBS |
| 1977–78 | Milwaukee Bucks | 131 | Kansas City Kings | 122 | | | |
| 1977–78 | San Antonio Spurs | 115 | New Orleans Jazz | 105 | | | |
| 1977–78 | Philadelphia 76ers | 110 | New York Knicks | 113 | | | |
| 1977–78 | Golden State Warriors | 97 | Portland Trail Blazers | 109 | | Trail Blazers enter as the defending NBA champions. | |
| 1977–78 | Los Angeles Lakers | 111 | Seattle SuperSonics | 96 | | | |
| 1977–78 | Atlanta Hawks | 93 | Washington Bullets | 100 | | | |
| 1978–79 | Philadelphia 76ers | 109 | New York Knicks | 94 | | | CBS |
| 1978–79 | Golden State Warriors | 102 | Portland Trail Blazers | 115 | | | |
| 1978–79 | San Diego Clippers | 123 | Seattle SuperSonics | 118 | | | |
| 1979–80 | Detroit Pistons | 101 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 111 | | | |
| 1979–80 | New Jersey Nets | 102 | New York Knicks | 131 | | Knicks–Nets rivalry | |
| 1979–80 | Golden State Warriors | 91 | Portland Trail Blazers | 113 | | | |
| 1979–80 | Denver Nuggets | 111 | Utah Jazz | 122 | | | |
| 1979–80 | Philadelphia 76ers | 95 | Washington Bullets | 92 | | | CBS |
| 1980–81 | Boston Celtics | 117 | New York Knicks | 108 | | Celtics–Knicks rivalry | CBS |
| 1980–81 | San Antonio Spurs | 111 | Phoenix Suns | 131 | | Spurs–Suns rivalry | |
| 1980–81 | Golden State Warriors | 114 | Portland Trail Blazers | 115 | | | USA |
| 1980–81 | New Jersey Nets | 94 | Washington Bullets | 109 | | | USA |
| 1981–82 | New Jersey Nets | 96 | New York Knicks | 95 | | Knicks–Nets rivalry | |
| 1981–82 | Los Angeles Lakers | 104 | Phoenix Suns | 101 | | | CBS |
| 1981–82 | Seattle SuperSonics | 94 | Portland Trail Blazers | 99 | | | |
| 1981–82 | Indiana Pacers | 98 | Washington Bullets | 115 | | | |
| 1982–83 | New Jersey Nets | 112 | New York Knicks | 110 | (OT) | Knicks–Nets rivalry | |
| 1982–83 | Seattle SuperSonics | 88 | Portland Trail Blazers | 95 | | | |
| 1982–83 | Phoenix Suns | 111 | Utah Jazz | 101 | | | |
| 1982–83 | Atlanta Hawks | 97 | Washington Bullets | 91 | | | |
| 1983–84 | New Jersey Nets | 110 | New York Knicks | 112 | (OT) | Knicks–Nets rivalry | CBS |
| 1983–84 | Los Angeles Lakers | 121 | Portland Trail Blazers | 141 | | | ESPN |
| 1984–85 | Atlanta Hawks | 106 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 109 | | | |
| 1984–85 | Philadelphia 76ers | 109 | Detroit Pistons | 108 | | | CBS |
| 1984–85 | New Jersey Nets | 120 | New York Knicks | 114 | | Knicks–Nets rivalry | TBS |
| 1984–85 | Golden State Warriors | 97 | Portland Trail Blazers | 106 | | | |
| 1985–86 | Boston Celtics | 104 | New York Knicks | 113 | (2OT) | Celtics–Knicks rivalry. Celtics enter as the defending Eastern Conference champions. | CBS |
| 1985–86 | Los Angeles Clippers | 107 | Portland Trail Blazers | 121 | | | TBS |
| 1986–87 | Chicago Bulls | 85 | New York Knicks | 86 | | Bulls–Knicks rivalry | CBS |
| 1986–87 | Washington Bullets | 102 | Philadelphia 76ers | 97 | | 1986 NBA playoffs first round rematch | TBS |
| 1987–88 | Detroit Pistons | 91 | New York Knicks | 87 | | | CBS |
| 1987–88 | Atlanta Hawks | 106 | Philadelphia 76ers | 100 | | | TBS |
| 1988–89 | Washington Bullets | 110 | Philadelphia 76ers | 125 | | | TBS |
| 1988–89 | Los Angeles Lakers | 87 | Utah Jazz | 101 | | Lakers enter as the defending NBA champions. 1988 NBA playoffs second round rematch | CBS |
| 1989–90 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 104 | Atlanta Hawks | 115 | | | CBS |
| 1990–91 | Detroit Pistons | 86 | Chicago Bulls | 98 | | Bulls–Pistons rivalry, Pistons enter as the defending NBA champions. 1990 NBA playoffs Eastern Conference Finals rematch | NBC |
| 1991–92 | Boston Celtics | 99 | Chicago Bulls | 121 | | Bulls enter as the defending NBA champions. | NBC |
| 1991–92 | Los Angeles Lakers | 85 | Los Angeles Clippers | 75 | | Lakers–Clippers rivalry. Lakers enter as defending Western conference champions. | NBC |
| 1992–93 | New York Knicks | 77 | Chicago Bulls | 89 | | Bulls–Knicks rivalry, Bulls enter as the defending NBA champions. 1992 NBA playoffs second round rematch | NBC |
| 1992–93 | San Antonio Spurs | 103 | Los Angeles Clippers | 94 | | | NBC |
| 1993–94 | Orlando Magic | 93 | Chicago Bulls | 95 | | Magic' First Christmas Game Bulls enter as the defending NBA champions. | NBC |
| 1993–94 | Houston Rockets | 91 | Phoenix Suns | 111 | | | NBC |
| 1994–95 | New York Knicks | 104 | Chicago Bulls | 107 | (OT) | Bulls–Knicks rivalry 1994 NBA playoffs second round rematch | NBC |
| 1994–95 | Seattle SuperSonics | 96 | Denver Nuggets | 105 | | 1994 NBA playoffs first round rematch | NBC |
| 1995–96 | Houston Rockets | 90 | Orlando Magic | 92 | | 1995 NBA Finals rematch, Rockets enter as the defending NBA champions. | NBC |
| 1995–96 | San Antonio Spurs | 105 | Phoenix Suns | 100 | | Spurs–Suns rivalry | NBC |
| 1996–97 | Detroit Pistons | 83 | Chicago Bulls | 95 | | Bulls–Pistons rivalry, Bulls enter as the defending NBA champions. | NBC |
| 1996–97 | Los Angeles Lakers | 108 | Phoenix Suns | 87 | | | NBC |
| 1997–98 | Miami Heat | 80 | Chicago Bulls | 90 | | Bulls enter as the defending NBA champions. 1997 NBA playoffs Eastern Conference Finals rematch | NBC |
| 1997–98 | Houston Rockets | 103 | Utah Jazz | 107 | | Jazz–Rockets rivalry 1997 NBA playoffs Western Conference Finals rematch | NBC |
| 1998–99 | Due to the league's six-month lockout, the season started late in February. As a result, no Christmas Day game was held during this season. | Due to the league's six-month lockout, the season started late in February. As a result, no Christmas Day game was held during this season. | Due to the league's six-month lockout, the season started late in February. As a result, no Christmas Day game was held during this season. | Due to the league's six-month lockout, the season started late in February. As a result, no Christmas Day game was held during this season. | Due to the league's six-month lockout, the season started late in February. As a result, no Christmas Day game was held during this season. | Due to the league's six-month lockout, the season started late in February. As a result, no Christmas Day game was held during this season. | Due to the league's six-month lockout, the season started late in February. As a result, no Christmas Day game was held during this season. |
| 1999–2000 | New York Knicks | 90 | Indiana Pacers | 101 | | Knicks–Pacers rivalry, 1999 NBA playoffs Eastern Conference Finals rematch. Knicks enter as the defending Eastern conference champions. | NBC |
| 1999–2000 | San Antonio Spurs | 93 | Los Angeles Lakers | 99 | | Lakers–Spurs rivalry, 1999 NBA playoffs second round rematch, Spurs enter as the defending NBA champions. | NBC |
| 2000–01 | Orlando Magic | 93 | Indiana Pacers | 103 | | | NBC |
| 2000–01 | Portland Trail Blazers | 109 | Los Angeles Lakers | 104 | | 2000 NBA playoffs Western Conference Finals rematch., Lakers enter as the defending NBA champions. | NBC |
| 2001–02 | Philadelphia 76ers | 82 | Los Angeles Lakers | 88 | | 2001 NBA Finals rematch, Lakers enter as the defending NBA champions. | NBC |
| 2001–02 | Toronto Raptors | 94 | New York Knicks | 102 | | Raptors' first Christmas Day game, 2001 NBA playoffs first round rematch. | NBC |
| 2002–03 | Detroit Pistons | 99 | Orlando Magic | 104 | (OT) | | ESPN |
| 2002–03 | Boston Celtics | 81 | New Jersey Nets | 117 | | 2002 NBA playoffs Eastern Conference Finals rematch. Nets enter as defending Eastern conference champions. | ABC |
| 2002–03 | Sacramento Kings | 105 | Los Angeles Lakers | 99 | | 2002 NBA playoffs Western Conference Finals rematch, Lakers enter as the defending NBA champions. | ABC |
| 2003–04 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 101 | Orlando Magic | 113 | (OT) | LeBron James's first Christmas Day game. | ESPN |
| 2003–04 | Dallas Mavericks | 111 | Sacramento Kings | 103 | | Mavericks' first Christmas Day game, 2003 NBA playoffs second round rematch. | ABC |
| 2003–04 | Houston Rockets | 99 | Los Angeles Lakers | 87 | | | ABC |
| 2004–05 | Detroit Pistons | 98 | Indiana Pacers | 93 | | 2004 NBA playoffs Eastern Conference Finals rematch, Malice at the Palace rematch, Pistons enter as the defending NBA champions. | ESPN |
| 2004–05 | Miami Heat | 104 | Los Angeles Lakers | 102 | (OT) | Shaq–Kobe feud. Lakers enter as the defending Western conference champions. | ABC |
| 2005–06 | San Antonio Spurs | 70 | Detroit Pistons | 85 | | 2005 NBA Finals rematch, Spurs enter as the defending NBA champions. | ABC |
| 2005–06 | Los Angeles Lakers | 92 | Miami Heat | 97 | | Shaq–Kobe feud | ABC |
| 2006–07 | Los Angeles Lakers | 85 | Miami Heat | 101 | | Shaq–Kobe feud, Heat enter as the defending NBA champions. | ABC |
| 2007–08 | Miami Heat | 82 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 96 | | Cavaliers enter as the defending Eastern conference champions. | ABC |
| 2007–08 | Phoenix Suns | 115 | Los Angeles Lakers | 122 | | 2007 NBA playoffs first round rematch. | ABC |
| 2007–08 | Seattle SuperSonics | 79 | Portland Trail Blazers | 89 | | | ESPN |
| 2008–09 | Washington Wizards | 89 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 93 | | 2008 NBA playoffs first round rematch. | TNT |
| 2008–09 | Boston Celtics | 83 | Los Angeles Lakers | 92 | | Celtics–Lakers rivalry, 2008 NBA Finals rematch, Celtics enter as the defending NBA champions. | ABC |
| 2008–09 | New Orleans Hornets | 68 | Orlando Magic | 88 | | New Orleans franchise's first Christmas Day game. | ESPN |
| 2008–09 | San Antonio Spurs | 91 | Phoenix Suns | 90 | | Spurs–Suns rivalry, 2008 NBA playoffs first round rematch. | ABC |
| 2008–09 | Dallas Mavericks | 102 | Portland Trail Blazers | 94 | | | TNT |
| 2009–10 | Miami Heat | 93 | New York Knicks | 87 | | Heat–Knicks rivalry | ESPN |
| 2009–10 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 102 | Los Angeles Lakers | 87 | | Lakers enter as the defending NBA champions. | ABC |
| 2009–10 | Boston Celtics | 86 | Orlando Magic | 77 | | 2009 NBA playoffs second round rematch. | ABC |
| 2009–10 | Los Angeles Clippers | 93 | Phoenix Suns | 124 | | | ESPN |
| 2009–10 | Denver Nuggets | 96 | Portland Trail Blazers | 107 | | | ESPN |
| 2010–11 | Chicago Bulls | 95 | New York Knicks | 103 | | Bulls–Knicks rivalry | ESPN |
| 2010–11 | Boston Celtics | 78 | Orlando Magic | 86 | | 2010 NBA playoffs Eastern Conference Finals rematch. | ABC |
| 2010–11 | Miami Heat | 96 | Los Angeles Lakers | 80 | | Lakers enter as the defending NBA champions. | ABC |
| 2010–11 | Denver Nuggets | 106 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 114 | | | ESPN |
| 2010–11 | Portland Trail Blazers | 102 | Golden State Warriors | 109 | | | ESPN |
| 2011–12 | Boston Celtics | 104 | New York Knicks | 106 | | Celtics–Knicks rivalry, 2011 NBA playoffs first round rematch. | TNT |
| 2011–12 | Miami Heat | 105 | Dallas Mavericks | 94 | | 2011 NBA Finals rematch, Mavericks enter as the defending NBA champions. | ABC |
| 2011–12 | Chicago Bulls | 88 | Los Angeles Lakers | 87 | | | ABC |
| 2011–12 | Orlando Magic | 89 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 97 | | | ESPN |
| 2011–12 | Los Angeles Clippers | 105 | Golden State Warriors | 86 | | | ESPN |
| 2012–13 | Boston Celtics | 93 | Brooklyn Nets | 76 | | | ESPN |
| 2012–13 | New York Knicks | 94 | Los Angeles Lakers | 100 | | | ABC |
| 2012–13 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 97 | Miami Heat | 103 | | 2012 NBA Finals rematch, Heat enter as the defending NBA champions. | ABC |
| 2012–13 | Houston Rockets | 120 | Chicago Bulls | 97 | | | ESPN |
| 2012–13 | Denver Nuggets | 100 | Los Angeles Clippers | 112 | | | ESPN |
| 2013–14 | Chicago Bulls | 95 | Brooklyn Nets | 78 | | 2013 NBA playoffs first round rematch. | ESPN |
| 2013–14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 123 | New York Knicks | 94 | | | ABC |
| 2013–14 | Miami Heat | 101 | Los Angeles Lakers | 95 | | Heat enter as the defending NBA champions. | ABC |
| 2013–14 | Houston Rockets | 111 | San Antonio Spurs | 98 | | Rockets–Spurs rivalry | ESPN |
| 2013–14 | Los Angeles Clippers | 103 | Golden State Warriors | 105 | | | ESPN |
| 2014–15 | Washington Wizards | 102 | New York Knicks | 91 | | | ESPN |
| 2014–15 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 114 | San Antonio Spurs | 106 | | 2014 NBA playoffs Western Conference Finals rematch, Spurs enter as the defending NBA champions. | ABC |
| 2014–15 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 91 | Miami Heat | 101 | | LeBron James against his former team. | ABC |
| 2014–15 | Los Angeles Lakers | 93 | Chicago Bulls | 113 | | | TNT |
| 2014–15 | Golden State Warriors | 86 | Los Angeles Clippers | 100 | | 2014 NBA playoffs first round rematch. | TNT |
| 2015–16 | New Orleans Pelicans | 88 | Miami Heat | 94 | (OT) | | ESPN |
| 2015–16 | Chicago Bulls | 105 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 96 | | | ABC |
| 2015–16 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 83 | Golden State Warriors | 89 | | Cavaliers–Warriors rivalry 2015 NBA Finals rematch Warriors enter as the defending NBA champions. 2016 NBA Finals preview | ABC |
| 2015–16 | San Antonio Spurs | 84 | Houston Rockets | 88 | | Rockets–Spurs rivalry | ESPN |
| 2015–16 | Los Angeles Clippers | 94 | Los Angeles Lakers | 84 | | Lakers–Clippers rivalry | ESPN |
| 2016–17 | Boston Celtics | 119 | New York Knicks | 114 | | Celtics–Knicks rivalry | ESPN |
| 2016–17 | Golden State Warriors | 108 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 109 | | Cavaliers–Warriors rivalry 2016 NBA Finals rematch Cavaliers enter as the defending NBA champions. 2017 NBA Finals preview | ABC |
| 2016–17 | Chicago Bulls | 100 | San Antonio Spurs | 119 | | | ABC |
| 2016–17 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 100 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 112 | | Timberwolves' first Christmas Day game | ESPN |
| 2016–17 | Los Angeles Clippers | 102 | Los Angeles Lakers | 111 | | Lakers–Clippers rivalry | ESPN |
| 2017–18 | Philadelphia 76ers | 105 | New York Knicks | 98 | | | ESPN |
| 2017–18 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 92 | Golden State Warriors | 99 | | Cavaliers–Warriors rivalry 2017 NBA Finals rematch Warriors enter as the defending NBA champions. 2018 NBA Finals preview | ABC |
| 2017–18 | Washington Wizards | 111 | Boston Celtics | 103 | | 2017 NBA playoffs second round rematch. | ABC |
| 2017–18 | Houston Rockets | 107 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 112 | | 2017 NBA playoffs first round rematch. | ABC |
| 2017–18 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 121 | Los Angeles Lakers | 104 | | | TNT |
| 2018–19 | Milwaukee Bucks | 109 | New York Knicks | 95 | | | ESPN |
| 2018–19 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 109 | Houston Rockets | 113 | | | ABC |
| 2018–19 | Philadelphia 76ers | 114 | Boston Celtics | 121 | (OT) | 76ers–Celtics rivalry, 2018 NBA playoffs second round rematch. | ABC |
| 2018–19 | Los Angeles Lakers | 127 | Golden State Warriors | 101 | | Warriors enter as the defending NBA champions. | ABC/ESPN |
| 2018–19 | Portland Trail Blazers | 96 | Utah Jazz | 117 | | | ESPN |
| 2019–20 | Boston Celtics | 118 | Toronto Raptors | 102 | | First Christmas Day game in Canada; Raptors enter as the defending NBA champions. | ESPN |
| 2019–20 | Milwaukee Bucks | 109 | Philadelphia 76ers | 121 | | | ABC |
| 2019–20 | Houston Rockets | 104 | Golden State Warriors | 116 | | 2019 NBA playoffs second round rematch. Warriors enter as defending Western conference champions. | ABC |
| 2019–20 | Los Angeles Clippers | 111 | Los Angeles Lakers | 106 | | Lakers–Clippers rivalry | ABC/ESPN |
| 2019–20 | New Orleans Pelicans | 112 | Denver Nuggets | 100 | | | ESPN |
| 2020–21 | New Orleans Pelicans | 98 | Miami Heat | 111 | | Heat enter as the defending Eastern conference champions. | ESPN |
| 2020–21 | Golden State Warriors | 99 | Milwaukee Bucks | 138 | | | ABC |
| 2020–21 | Brooklyn Nets | 123 | Boston Celtics | 95 | | | ABC |
| 2020–21 | Dallas Mavericks | 115 | Los Angeles Lakers | 138 | | Lakers enter as the defending NBA champions. | ABC/ESPN |
| 2020–21 | Los Angeles Clippers | 121 | Denver Nuggets | 108 | | 2020 NBA playoffs second round rematch | ESPN |
| 2021–22 | Atlanta Hawks | 87 | New York Knicks | 101 | | 2021 NBA playoffs first round rematch. | ESPN |
| 2021–22 | Boston Celtics | 113 | Milwaukee Bucks | 117 | | Bucks enter as the defending NBA champions. | ABC |
| 2021–22 | Golden State Warriors | 116 | Phoenix Suns | 107 | | Stephen Curry breaks Christmas slump. Suns enter as the defending Western conference champions. | ABC |
| 2021–22 | Brooklyn Nets | 122 | Los Angeles Lakers | 115 | | | ABC/ESPN |
| 2021–22 | Dallas Mavericks | 116 | Utah Jazz | 120 | | | ESPN |
| 2022–23 | Philadelphia 76ers | 119 | New York Knicks | 112 | | | ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN+ |
| 2022–23 | Los Angeles Lakers | 115 | Dallas Mavericks | 124 | | | ABC/ESPN |
| 2022–23 | Milwaukee Bucks | 118 | Boston Celtics | 139 | | Celtics enter as the defending Eastern conference champions. 2022 NBA playoffs second round rematch. | ABC/ESPN |
| 2022–23 | Memphis Grizzlies | 109 | Golden State Warriors | 123 | | Grizzlies' first Christmas Day game, Warriors enter as the defending NBA champions. 2022 NBA playoffs second round rematch. | ABC/ESPN |
| 2022–23 | Phoenix Suns | 125 | Denver Nuggets | 128 | (OT) | | ABC/ESPN |
| 2023–24 | Milwaukee Bucks | 122 | New York Knicks | 129 | | | ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN+ |
| 2023–24 | Golden State Warriors | 114 | Denver Nuggets | 120 | | Nuggets enter as the defending NBA champions. | ABC/ESPN/ESPN+ |
| 2023–24 | Boston Celtics | 126 | Los Angeles Lakers | 115 | | Celtics–Lakers rivalry | ABC/ESPN/ESPN+ |
| 2023–24 | Philadelphia 76ers | 113 | Miami Heat | 119 | | Heat enter as the defending Eastern conference champions. | ESPN/ESPN+ |
| 2023–24 | Dallas Mavericks | 128 | Phoenix Suns | 114 | | | ESPN/ESPN+ |
| 2024–25 | San Antonio Spurs | 114 | New York Knicks | 117 | | | ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN+/Disney+ |
| 2024–25 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 105 | Dallas Mavericks | 99 | | 2024 NBA playoffs Western Conference Finals rematch, Mavericks enter as the defending Western conference champions. | ABC/ESPN/ESPN+/Disney+ |
| 2024–25 | Philadelphia 76ers | 118 | Boston Celtics | 114 | | 76ers–Celtics rivalry Celtics enter as the defending NBA champions. | ABC/ESPN/ESPN+/Disney+ |
| 2024–25 | Los Angeles Lakers | 115 | Golden State Warriors | 113 | | Lakers–Warriors rivalry | ABC/ESPN/ESPN+/Disney+ |
| 2024–25 | Denver Nuggets | 100 | Phoenix Suns | 110 | | Suns first Christmas win since 2009 | ABC/ESPN/ESPN+/Disney+ |

## Christmas Day standings

Of current NBA teams.
| Team | Last Game | Wins | Losses | Win % | Previous team names |
| Atlanta Hawks | 2021 (Lost 101–87 at New York) | 9 | 12 | .429 | Tri-Cities Blackhawks (1949–1951) Milwaukee Hawks (1951–1955) St. Louis Hawks (1955–1968) |
| Boston Celtics | 2024 (Lost 118-114 vs. Philadelphia) | 17 | 21 | .447 | |
| Brooklyn Nets | 2021 (Won 122–115 at L.A. Lakers) | 6 | 5 | .545 | New Jersey Nets (1977–2012) |
| Charlotte Hornets | Never | 0 | 0 | – | Charlotte Bobcats (2004–2014) |
| Chicago Bulls | 2016 (Lost 119–100 at San Antonio) | 13 | 8 | .619 | |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 2017 (Lost 99–92 at Golden State) | 7 | 7 | .500 | |
| Dallas Mavericks | 2024 (Lost 105–99 vs. Minnesota) | 4 | 4 | .500 | |
| Denver Nuggets | 2024 (Lost 110–100 at Phoenix) | 3 | 7 | .300 | |
| Detroit Pistons | 2005 (Won 85–70 vs. San Antonio) | 10 | 22 | .313 | Fort Wayne Pistons (1948–1957) |
| Golden State Warriors | 2024 (Lost 115–113 vs. L.A. Lakers) | 15 | 19 | .441 | Philadelphia Warriors (1946–1962) San Francisco Warriors (1962–1971) |
| Houston Rockets | 2019 (Lost 104–116 at Golden State) | 6 | 6 | .500 | San Diego Rockets (1967–1971) |
| Indiana Pacers | 2004 (Lost 98–93 vs. Detroit) | 2 | 2 | .500 | |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 2020 (Won 121–108 at Denver) | 8 | 9 | .471 | Buffalo Braves (1970–1978) San Diego Clippers (1978–1984) |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 2024 (Won 115–113 at Golden State) | 25 | 26 | .490 | Minneapolis Lakers (1948–1960) |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 2022 (Lost 123–109 at Golden State) | 0 | 1 | .000 | Vancouver Grizzlies (1995–2001) |
| Miami Heat | 2023 (Won 111–98 vs. New Orleans) | 12 | 2 | .857 | |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 2023 (Lost 122–129 at New York) | 5 | 5 | .500 | |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 2024 (Won 105–99 at Dallas) | 2 | 1 | .667 | |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 2020 (Lost 98–111 at Miami) | 1 | 3 | .250 | New Orleans Hornets (2002–2005, 2007–2013) New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets (2005–2007) |
| New York Knicks | 2024 (Won 117–114 vs. San Antonio) | 25 | 32 | .439 | |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 2018 (Lost 113–109 at Houston) | 6 | 14 | .300 | Seattle SuperSonics (1967–2008) |
| Orlando Magic | 2011 (Lost 97–89 at Oklahoma City) | 5 | 4 | .556 | |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 2024 (Won 118–114 at Boston) | 20 | 15 | .571 | Syracuse Nationals (1949–1963) |
| Phoenix Suns | 2024 (Won 110–100 vs Denver) | 13 | 9 | .591 | |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 2018 (Lost 117–96 at Utah) | 14 | 4 | .778 | |
| Sacramento Kings | 2003 (Lost 111–103 vs. Dallas) | 18 | 11 | .621 | Rochester Royals (1948–1957) Cincinnati Royals (1957–1972) Kansas City-Omaha Kings (1972–1975) Kansas City Kings (1975–1985) |
| San Antonio Spurs | 2024 (Lost 117–114 at New York) | 5 | 7 | .417 | |
| Toronto Raptors | 2019 (Lost 118–102 vs. Boston) | 0 | 2 | .000 | |
| Utah Jazz | 2021 (Won 120–116 vs. Dallas) | 6 | 2 | .750 | New Orleans Jazz (1974–1979) |
| Washington Wizards | 2017 (Won 111–103 at Boston) | 16 | 7 | .696 | Chicago Packers (1961–1962) Chicago Zephyrs (1962–1963) Baltimore Bullets (1963–1973) Capital Bullets (1973–1974) Washington Bullets (1974–1997) |

### Most frequent match-ups among active teams

| Count | Matchup | Record | Years Played |
| 13 | New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers | 76ers, 8–5 | 1953, 1954, 1957, 1960, 1962, 1968, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 2017, 2022 |
| 8 | Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks | Celtics, 5–3 | 1954, 1958, 1959, 1967, 1980, 1985, 2011, 2016 |
| 6 | Golden State Warriors vs. Portland Trail Blazers | Trail Blazers, 5–1 | 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1984, 2010 |
| 6 | Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns | Lakers, 4–2 | 1968, 1973, 1976, 1981, 1996, 2007 |
| 6 | Philadelphia 76ers vs. Washington Wizards | Tie, 3–3 | 1967, 1969, 1971, 1979, 1986, 1988 |

## Reception
### Praise

Several fans, players, coaches, and members of the news media support the tradition of Christmas games. For players and coaches, the standard public statement is that a Christmas game is an honor, as it is not only a chance to play on national television, but also a reward for having a great team and great players.
Before the game between the Celtics and Magic at Amway Arena in 2009, personnel on both sides referred to playing on Christmas as a reward. Celtics coach Doc Rivers said that like most of the players, he always watched Christmas Day games growing up. He said, "As a kid, you wanted to be on Christmas...I tend to look at it as a reward." In 2010, added that it was an "honor" to be part of the marquee games, saying, "I look at it as a privilege. The fact that they asked us to play on Christmas means we're one of the good teams, one of the featured teams." Magic Center Dwight Howard said that he didn't "see a challenge. We're playing basketball on Christmas. We couldn't help it. If you play on a pretty good team and if you have to play on Christmas, so be it. I enjoy it. I'd rather be playing on Christmas than sitting at home wishing I was playing on Christmas. I like it. I think it's fun."
Lamar Odom called it "a tremendous privilege to be able to entertain the world...playing on TV in those games." In 2010, Knicks Coach Mike D'Antoni said that players should be "very fortunate" to be playing on Christmas Day and that "it helps the league, and...it helps other people on Christmas or on the holidays."
Doug White, an ESPN executive, said that Christmas is "Thanksgiving on the NBA side. Obviously, Christmas Day is a day when everybody is home, everybody is relaxing, and what better way to serve them than with as many games as we possibly can...We try to put on the best games possible that people have interest in." Jermaine O'Neal on the Celtics agreed, saying, "It's special because the whole world is watching. It's Christmas, it's a special day, with everybody together to spend time with each other, as far as family and friends. We have the opportunity to do that, bringing our families down with us. It makes it that much more special—the opportunity to play in front of the rest of the world and be together at Christmas with our family."
During broadcasts of NBA games, commentators and the news media have agreed with White and said that the nature of the games played has made Christmas Day the best day of an NBA regular season. They serve as a preview of a potential series in the playoffs, and perhaps, the finals.

### Criticism

In recent years, players and coaches have complained about playing on Christmas Day, saying that takes time away from families. In 2009, Orlando Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy requested that the NBA do not schedule any more games on Christmas Day, saying "I actually feel sorry for people who have nothing to do on Christmas Day other than watch an NBA game" and said that the day is best spent with family. The Magic coach was fined for his comments.
In 2010, there were complaints from both sides before the game between the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles. Lakers coach Phil Jackson, son of two Christian ministers and author of a book on spiritual growth related to basketball, said, "I don't think anybody should play on Christmas Day" and "it's like Christian holidays don't mean...anything any more." From the Heat, LeBron James said, "if you ask any player in the league, we'd rather be home with our families...It's not just a regular holiday. It's...one of those days that you wish you could wake up in the morning with the kids and open up presents."
Others have managed to voice some discontent while still accepting the Christmas game tradition. Before the game between the Bulls and the Knicks in New York, Coach Mike D'Antoni said, "I can adjust a little bit. I can open my presents up at 7 o'clock at night instead of 7 o'clock in the morning." Raymond Felton said, "you'd rather be with your family. We're still going to celebrate." He, like many players, said that he was fortunate to have played with his family in attendance. Bulls Coach Tom Thibodeau said, "I think it's an honor and a privilege to be playing. I know it's tough on the away team, particularly the players who have kids. But that's all part of it." Derrick Rose said, "I'm going to miss my family, and I hate being away from home. But this is my job and it's an honor to be playing on Christmas."
In 2004, the NBA was erroneously criticized for scheduling a game between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers as the first matchup since their brawl that the two teams had faced each other. The regular season, and the game, was scheduled well before the brawl took place, and was played with a higher-than-normal security presence and fan restrictions to prevent a repeat occurrence. The other game scheduled that day drew similar criticism. The game between the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center marked the first time since the Lakers traded Shaquille O'Neal to the Heat that the two teams were facing each other and the first time that Shaq and Kobe Bryant would be facing each other as opponents.
The NBA does not schedule games on Christmas Eve, December 24, to allow players and coaches who have to play on Christmas Day to be with their families. Also families of players and coaches who participate in Christmas games, normally attend the games.

### Television ratings

The NBA's Christmas games have garnered some of the highest ratings for any televised regular season NBA game. The TV ratings for the biggest Christmas games are often higher than any NBA game outside of the NBA Finals, and for many U.S. sports fans, Christmas serves as an unofficial "start" to the NBA season; the usual start of the NBA season occurs under relatively little fanfare compared to the NFL or MLB, as those leagues are at the most consequential points of their seasons.
However, ratings for the NBA's Christmas games usually pale in comparison to the NFL whenever the league plays games on Christmas Day. Beginning in 2020, the NFL scheduled Christmas Day games annually as opposed to previous years when the league only scheduled games on Christmas whenever it falls on a weekend. This resulted in further ratings decline for the NBA during the holiday. For instance, in 2023, the NBA suffered a record-low average of 1.3 rating and 2.85 million viewership for all of its Christmas Day games whereas the NFL games averaged 27 million viewers.